DiploLab

Esther Edohwokui ’26 is majoring in Diplomacy and International Relations with a minor in Russian and East European Studies. She holds a leadership position in Zero Chains Initiative, a human trafficking awareness organization as the Director of Impact and Events. She has interned with the U.S. State Department in the Office of Global Criminal Justice and U.S. Embassy Praia, Cape Verde. Her focus on the lack of comprehensive civic and political education in low-income communities has led to her developing EngagEd, an outreach program designed to close that educational gap and promote stronger civic engagement and voter participation in elementary students. Her research interests include the intersection between international human rights law, policy, and civic education. 

Liana Deeb ’27 is majoring in Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University. She serves as a tutor at the University’s Writing Center and as the president of the Palestinian Student Association. Her research interests include geopolitics and security in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, international law, and human rights—with a focus on displacement, gender equality, and the intersections of law and conflict.

Adreanna Dones ’26 is majoring in Diplomacy and International Relations and Spanish. She is the president of the United Nations Association at Seton Hall, the executive director of the Seton Hall Undergraduate Leaders podcast and member of the Buccino Leadership Institute, where she serves as a co-founder and book manager for the SHUShelf textbook initiative. Adreanna interned for the local government of Clifton, New Jersey and the United States Army War College. Her main areas of interest include public international law and sustainable development.

Maxwell Kastner ’27 is a double major in Social and Behavioral Sciences and Modern Languages. Max's research interests include topics related to cultural diplomacy, gender, religion, and global sociology. Max is the lead resident assistant in Xavier Hall, a co-chair of Seton Hall's Queer Student Society (PRIDE), and has been involved in various facets of the School of Diplomacy and its associated student organizations.

Qing Leasure ’27 is a junior pursuing majors in both Diplomacy and International Relations and Mathematics. He is the vice president of SHUNA, Seton Hall's competitive Model UN team, and director-general for SHUMUN XXVII, the University’s annual Model UN conference for high school students. Qing interned with the US Army War College and the U.S. Department of Defense. His areas of interest include national security and foreign policy.

Marlon Obed Luna López and Dobson ’27 is a junior with two majors: Diplomacy and International Relations and Latin American Studies. He is also pursuing a minor in African American Studies. Marlon is founder and president of Seton Hall’s Afro and Latin United Activist Coalition (ALUAC) and serves as a peer mentor for freshmen scholars at the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute (JAULI). His primary research interests encompass nationalism, colonialism and imperialism, ethnic relations, U.S foreign intelligence, economic development and human rights, especially within the context of Latin America and the Caribbean. He is working on a short story, If Bananland Ever Spoke, an allegorical tale of retribution, oppression, power and love, set in 1960s post-coup d’etat Guatemala.

Maximillian Otto ’26 is studying International Economics and International Relations with a minor in Russian language. As vice president and co-founder of the Zero Chains Initiative, he is dedicated to spreading awareness about human trafficking, particularly among Seton Hall's student body. He plans to attend law school with an eye toward public international law and public interest work.

Alaa’a Ashkar ‘25  majored in Diplomacy and International Relations and was part of the 3+3 program. In addition to the DiploLab, she was also a part of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). Her areas of interest include international law and human rights, international criminal law, media, and journalism, with a special focus on the Middle East, and American Foreign Policy.

Joshua Axton ‘25  double majored in International Relations and Economics and minoring in Spanish. He was the curriculum director for the Voice of Leadership and vice-president of the Gaming Sector. Josh also worked as a desk assistant on campus and was a scholar at the Buccino Leadership Institute and a regular contributor to the Global Current podcast at Seton Hall. His areas of interest include international development, foreign policy, and security studies. 

Deborah Carreno ‘25  majored in International Relations and Diplomacy. She was the Treasurer of the United Nations Association at Seton Hall. A fun fact about her is that she is bilingual and is currently learning two other languages which are Arabic and French. Her research interests include economic development in Latin America and the Middle East. She is also interested in the history of international institutions. 

Jasmine De Leon ‘24  majored in Diplomacy and International Relations and minored in Catholic Studies, Journalism, and Asian Studies. She was the executive director of The Global Current and a member of the Buccino Leadership Institute, where she conducted interviews for the Undergraduate Leaders podcast. Jasmine also wrote for The Diplomatic Envoy and The Setonian. Her research interests include women’s rights, climate security, and the role of social media and journalism in global affairs.

Zachary Edwards '25  majored in Diplomacy and International Relations with a minor in Asian Studies. He was a member of the Resilience Integrity Scholarship and Excellence (RISE) program, and his primary interests are in East Asian affairs and international security, specifically Japanese relations.

Anna Enukishvili ‘27 is majoring in International Relations and Diplomacy. A fun fact about her is that she is bilingual and speaks Georgian. She is also studying French. Anna is the manager and executive board member of Media Design for the Cognitech AI Club at Seton Hall. Her research interests include foreign policy, climate security, and democratic erosion in post-Soviet states.

Hamzah Khan '24 majored in Diplomacy and International Relations with minors in History, and Economics. He was an associate producer for the Global Current Podcast and managing editor for the School of Diplomacy’s undergraduate newspaper, The Diplomatic Envoy. Hamzah also competed on Seton Hall’s competitive Model United Nations team and was the secretary-general of SHUMUN XXV, Seton Hall’s annual Model UN conference for high schoolers. He interned with the Council on American Islamic Relations and the U.S. State Department. His main areas of interest are geopolitics and security in the MENA region, economic development, and U.S. foreign policy.

Melissa Myrtaj ‘24 studied International Relations and Diplomacy with minors in Russian/Eastern European Studies and Anthropology. Melissa was the president of the Slavic Club, a Diplomacy mentor for incoming freshmen, and a writer for The Diplomatic Envoy. Her interests include international development and democratic erosion, especially in post-communist states. 

Madeline Rowe ‘26 is double majoring in Diplomacy and International Relations and Religion. Madeline is in the Honors Program and is a member of the Buccino Leadership Institute. She is also the campus news Editor of The Diplomatic Envoy and a Diplomacy mentor for freshmen. Madeline has also interned with New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell. Her research interests include the intersection between diplomacy and religion. 

R. Joseph Huddleston is an Assistant Professor in the School of Diplomacy and International Relations. He specializes in diplomacy by rebel groups, dynamics in intrastate conflict, and research design. His current work focuses on diplomatic activities of secessionist, separatist, and self-determination movements, as well as how international actors help or hinder separatist groups apart from diplomatic recognition. He also studies how civilian populations respond to violence and economic disruption in civil war. Dr. Huddleston has published in the Journal of Peace Research, the Journal of Conflict Resolution, The Wall Street Journal, Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, as well as in policy reports for government agencies and other peer-reviewed outlets.

Colin Smith ‘26 is a graduate student pursuing an M.A. in International Relations and Diplomacy, specializing in international security and foreign policy analysis. Colin is a research assistant for the School of Diplomacy and a team leader with its National Security Fellowship. His research focuses on emerging technology, great power competition and Russia-China strategic collaboration.

Michael Murphy is the Politics, Policy, and Data Librarian at Seton Hall, serving as the primary library liaison for the School of Diplomacy and International Relations as well as the Department of Political Science and Public Affairs. He is also a member of the University Research Data Services team.